Brexit will be ‘absolutely catastrophic’ for Grimsby, warns MP

Norway lost 90% of its filleting plants after opting out of EU's CFP -- and the same could happen in the UK.

Grimsby’s Member of Parliament (MP) Melanie Onn is warning the government that Brexit could be "absolutely catastrophic" for the town’s seafood processing sector, according to The Grimsby Telegraph.

Norway lost 90 of its 100 filleting plants after opting out of EU's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), something the UK now wants to do.

The loss of the town’s £6 billion (€6.9 billion/$8.1 billion)-a-year industry would be "absolutely catastrophic" for many of the 5,000 people employed in the fish sector, said Onn.

The Labour MP told ministers during a Westminster fishing debate on Thursday how Norway’s seafood processing industry had almost entirely collapsed after opting out of the CFP.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove has confirmed that the UK will be outside the CFP after exiting the EU so Britain can control its fishing waters without interference from Brussels.

But Onn warned that Norway – which is outside the EU but inside the European Economic Area (EEA) – had paid a great price for operating outside the CFP, with nine-out-of-ten processing plants closing down or relocating since its heyday 40 years ago.

Outside the CFP, Norway is forced to pay huge taxes on any processed fish it sells to the EU, a move that has almost killed-off that side of its fish trade. The Nordic country had 100 filleting plants in the 1970s but today only 10 remain.

Onn, a shadow minister, explained that it would be “absolutely catastrophic” if Grimsby’s main employment sector was to go the same way.

“Norway is often cited as an example of how the British fisheries sector could thrive outside of the Common Fisheries Policy,” said Onn.

“What isn’t mentioned is the effect its position has had on its seafood processing sector. By opting out of the CFP, Norway has to accept losing market access in fisheries.

“This trade-off has seen the majority of its seafood processing sector relocate to the EU, with Britain being a substantial winner from that situation.”

Being outside of the CFP means Norway cannot trade its processed foods – such as smoked salmon or fishcakes – into the EU common market without paying an export tax.

While it pays a “minimal” 2 percent tariff on the fresh fish it sells to EU countries, processed fish faces a 13 percent charge.

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Brexit will be ‘absolutely catastrophic’ for Grimsby, warns MP

Norway lost 90% of its filleting plants after opting out of EU's CFP -- and the same could happen in the UK.

Grimsby’s Member of Parliament (MP) Melanie Onn is warning the government that Brexit could be "absolutely catastrophic" for the town’s seafood processing sector, according to The Grimsby Telegraph.

Norway lost 90 of its 100 filleting plants after opting out of EU's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), something the UK now wants to do.

The loss of the town’s £6 billion (€6.9 billion/$8.1 billion)-a-year industry would be "absolutely catastrophic" for many of the 5,000 people employed in the fish sector, said Onn.

The Labour MP told ministers during a Westminster fishing debate on Thursday how Norway’s seafood processing industry had almost entirely collapsed after opting out of the CFP.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove has confirmed that the UK will be outside the CFP after exiting the EU so Britain can control its fishing waters without interference from Brussels.

But Onn warned that Norway – which is outside the EU but inside the European Economic Area (EEA) – had paid a great price for operating outside the CFP, with nine-out-of-ten processing plants closing down or relocating since its heyday 40 years ago.

Outside the CFP, Norway is forced to pay huge taxes on any processed fish it sells to the EU, a move that has almost killed-off that side of its fish trade. The Nordic country had 100 filleting plants in the 1970s but today only 10 remain.

Onn, a shadow minister, explained that it would be “absolutely catastrophic” if Grimsby’s main employment sector was to go the same way.

“Norway is often cited as an example of how the British fisheries sector could thrive outside of the Common Fisheries Policy,” said Onn.

“What isn’t mentioned is the effect its position has had on its seafood processing sector. By opting out of the CFP, Norway has to accept losing market access in fisheries.

“This trade-off has seen the majority of its seafood processing sector relocate to the EU, with Britain being a substantial winner from that situation.”

Being outside of the CFP means Norway cannot trade its processed foods – such as smoked salmon or fishcakes – into the EU common market without paying an export tax.

While it pays a “minimal” 2 percent tariff on the fresh fish it sells to EU countries, processed fish faces a 13 percent charge.